Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-09-02

thrill with an emotion hslfdelicious, half
resentfuL
1t was late In In the summer when the
meaning Of IL all broke clearly upon me-
do not try to explain the pertinacity with
which continued To pay nightly visits 10 my
old room But there came an hour when sit
ting there, heard overhead once more, those
same regular footsteps, that same smothered
groan, which Of late | had nearly forgotten.
A mad impulse seized me and, mounting the
stairs, hurriedly traversed the hall aud
quickly threw open the door OF that unused
room, so we'll remembered, though now so
rarely entered. Nv cousin Dorothy leaned
over bed, her face white and rigid, and half
upright before her sat Felix Thanescourt, his
right arm barred aud thin stream OF blood
trickling from IL, upon the white pillow sup
porting 1t.
Quick" cried my cousin, "hand me the
lint theren She appeared entirely to have
forgotten my presence, as, eagerly but deftly
she bandaged the gaping wound
do not be alarmed, Miss LINTON" said
Felix, calmly sit is merely an old wound re-
opened" Then his strength failed him and
he sank back white and CHASTITY against his
pillows.
i went over 10 my cousin, in whose cheeks a
faint red was beginning to burn. "Oh, Doro-
thy!' cried. "Forgiye-" But could not
end my speech for the bitter contrition | felt
over the wrong had done her.
$50 away" said Felix, as bent over him.
shaking with terror. There was a kind Of
sternness in his voice, but his eyes were very
soft. $50 away" he repeated "You must
not touch me, Miss Marjorie"
al understand tou- I faltera1 turnfpO my
gaze away with sudden rapture Of tender
ness. In that moment he comprehended, |
think, all that the summer had brought to me
Ny Cousin Dorothy saw 1t too aud threw her
arms about me, sobblng out passions,ely:
"Oh, nv own poor darlingl'
But cared for nothing now, though Felix,
putting out his unhurt arm, strove to push me
aside.
Have you found me out Miss Lyntonr 7" he
asked. I'll am your fayorte theme, "A rebel >"
He paused an instant, then went on. Worse
sim. A rebel seeking shelter in the North,
1t has given it me, though there is price up
on my head. Your Cousin Dorothy, he rose
up now aud. lifting her hand, kissed it revcr-
enily-"your Cousin Dorothy forgot that
was rebel when | came to her suffering,
wounded, almost dead. She knew aud loved
me when was a little boy in Virginia. Could
she have ever dreamed that |, a prisoner OF
, war escaping from my guard, would come to
her for refugei For weeks she nursed me In
this very room, not even her husband guess
ing IT, We'll ] have learned that nv longer
stay here viii bring suspicion upon him, the
grand old msn, upon her" His voice
shook a Irh They are on NV track at
last! Do not think bitterly of me, Miss Mar
i"rie, All Ast asham of our cause, though
il Is a nearly hopslc-s one. am .an. away
nuw-cong ut once. IL IL death If | AIN
takenl"
read in his face all that bis words i'm
Piled | could not beM H. | laid nv hand
upon his shoulder crying with Quivering
voice: Felix. Felix
shai never forget the light int beamed
in his face 80 he drew me ~ hitn-s nj look ed
into my eyes,
"AhF' be murmwed. Marjorie, too, his.
forgotten that ! am rebel nv darling.
never meant that you should know. meant
Ia 60 away quietly under the burden " your
scorn and make no sgn that should beiray
NV love for you. When Won talked " your
brother your Gerald fighting down there at
' cAsburg, do Won think did pO feel a
just shame that ], soldier, as brave, a
loyal TO nv trust az he could be to his must
he Incorporating here "a a wandering school
master! And yet, / have no regret that am
IN your eye- rebel. For such | must b.
If true 20 my own idea Of duty But II |
were to die now, pursued hunted "a I am
plans ] have devised for the benefit II the
cause | fight for must perish with me.
could not have foreseen what disaster my
love must bring upon YOU. Dorothy, Dorothy
4 Lynton--" he turned upon my cousin with
vehement denial You know thai speak
truly ! would have shielded her from misery,
with my lifeN
The strong current Of his impetuous speech
ebbed FOR awhile. MY beloved" he went
on, If will not ask YOU TO FORGET that we
have ever met, nor even to hope that this
unhappy war ended, We shall meet again.
Something / cannot reason away lmpesses
upon ire the belief that our parting is a final
one. Be courageous, my own"
hurst into a frenzy Of weeping as he led
me to Dorothy. Dorothy" he whispered.
very softly, as he kissed her upturncd face,
MAY God forever bold you and yours IN his
keeping"
saw the faint smile about his tremulous
ips, as he laid his hand upon my head with
touch that carried benediction 10 IL, and stilled
NV passionate grief.
] did not cry out then. though | knew that
the kiss he pressed upon my lips was the seal
of an endless hetrothai, OF hopeless farewell.
| made no sound when heard him gong down
the stairs, and, a moment later, the clatter OF
h rse's hoofs upon the road. II was only
when my cousin Dorothy took me in her arms,
with sad, remorseful murmurlug, that words
came back 10 me.
Forever mine Felix my beloved" !
cried, and with the utterance a solemn peace
overlooked my soul. do not grieve. dear
Dorothy" said he is mine Nine beyond
the power Of time or changel / would not
have II otherwise II could. | am content
content TO wait the dawn Of Gods to-mor-
row"
surely Rodcrlck Lyuton could never mag
inc, reading day after day OF battles, which,
won or lost gradually drew The great Rebel
! ON 10 its close, how IA, heart OF one Of his
uutIffprs was f1rn v.ffl Tho f,anps II contepd-